1Der var nu gået lang tid, efter at Herren havde givet israelitterne fred for deres fjender. Josva var blevet en gammel mand,2og en dag kaldte han Israels ledere, dommere og administratorer til sig. „Jeg er nu en gammel mand,” begyndte han,3„og I har selv været vidne til alt det, Herren har gjort for jer i min levetid, for det var Herren, som kæmpede for jer,4og jeg har fordelt både de erobrede og uerobrede områder imellem jer. Hele landet mellem Jordanfloden og Middelhavet tilhører jer.5Herren jeres Gud vil selv drive alle de folk, som bor der nu, på flugt foran jer, så I kan tage hele landet i besiddelse, sådan som han har lovet.6Stå nu fast og overhold omhyggeligt alle de forskrifter og love, der står skrevet i Moses’ lovbog. Gå aldrig på kompromis med Guds bud!7Pas på, at I ikke blander jer med de hedenske folk, der endnu bor i landet. I må ikke dyrke deres guder eller sværge ved dem. Lad ikke engang navnene på deres guder komme over jeres læber.8Vær tro mod Herren, jeres Gud, sådan som I har været indtil i dag.9Han har drevet store og mægtige folkeslag på flugt, og ingen har kunnet holde stand imod jer.10Hver eneste af jer kan slå 1000 af dem på flugt, for Herren kæmper for jer, sådan som han har lovet.11Derfor skal I fortsat elske og adlyde ham ubetinget.12Hvis I vender jer fra ham og gifter jer med de fremmede folk omkring jer,13kan I være sikre på, at Herren, jeres Gud, ikke længere vil drive dem ud af jeres land. Da vil de blive en fælde for jer, en pisk over nakken og en torn i øjet, og I vil gå til grunde i det gode land, Herren har givet jer.14Nu er tiden kommet, hvor jeg skal dø. I har selv oplevet, hvordan alle Guds løfter til jer er gået i opfyldelse. Det var ikke tomme løfter, han gav.15Men lige så sikkert, som Herren har opfyldt sine løfter om velsignelse, vil han opfylde truslen om straf, hvis I er ulydige og bryder hans pagt ved at dyrke andre guder. Da vil han blive vred på jer—og I vil hurtigt blive udryddet og miste det gode land, han gav jer.”
King James Version
1And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.2And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:3And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.4Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.5And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.6Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;7That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them , neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:8But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.9For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.10One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.11Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.12Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:13Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.14And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.15Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.16When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.
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